Roman Recap

We know that the Romans were terrific engineers and introduced a completely new way of life for the Celtic tribes after they invaded Britain. It's important to remember though that despite being brilliant engineers, most of the things they used were not invented by them but rather adopted by them and improved upon. Glass for example was a product of Syria.

They were terrific builders that built things to last the test of time. Aqueducts such as the Pont du Gard and roads like the Appian Way can still be seen today. Some of their most famous buildings are still standing too. The Circus Maximus which could hold 250,000 people, the Pantheon and the Colosseum are great visitor attractions. Over time, the Romans sharpened their building skills greatly. From using mud brick, they advanced over a period of years to develop cement.

They also used a basic form of central heating that was rather terrific for that day and age. Floors would be raised and supported by tiles and as a furnace burned beneath the flooring, the heat would branch out underneath the floors and spread through gaps in the walls, heating the whole building.

The Romans aside from having a mighty army were also farmers. Their crops were important to them. Olives were grown for oil and grapes for wine and they also grew flax to make linen, although most of their clothes were made from wool. They also relied on the sea for trade and had strong ships that could carry goods a long way. Metals were also important to them and they frequently used gold, silver, lead and iron – for decoration as well as for armour and weapons.

Medicine wasn't advanced, but you still might be surprised by some of the things they did. One procedure "Trepanation," consisted of drilling into the head of a man without any type of anesthetic at all! It was thought that this kind of surgery would relieve severe headaches or help with head injuries. I think I'd have rather had the headache, wouldn't you?

A pretty impressive bunch the Romans weren't they? Skilled engineers, farmers, traders, builders, and of course their army which brought into the Roman Empire an area that stretched from Great Britain to modern day Iraq. I hope you've enjoyed this series on the Romans and their life? Don't forget to e-mail me with any questions that you might have.

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